As Manchester City lead the Barclays Premier League going into the final run-in, we can look forward to one of the most exciting title run-ins in recent history. Big-spending City will look to hold off the challenge from the red side of Manchester to win a title that will mean so much to their fans.
The battle for the fourth and final Champions League spot is heating up too. Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle all with a chance of making their way into Europe’s premium club competition.
At the bottom of the table, any of 5 teams can be making their way down into the Championship. Just 5 points separate all these clubs and it would extremely hard to predict who will be in the bottom 3 come May.
At this point of the season we can look back at what we’ve already seen in an already enthralling campaign. These ‘awards’ are purely based on the first half of the Premier League season (and may be ever so slightly biased towards Man. United)
Player of the Season: Robin Van Persie: With 22 goals to his name already, many feel the Arsenal skipper is single handedly carrying the team towards a Champions League spot.
Goal of the Season: Nani vs. Chelsea: Manchest United were looking vulnerable even though they were a goal to the good before Nani sent home a fantastic drive into Petr Cech’s top right corner. One of the best goals scored at the Stretford End in a long time.
Best Signing: Demba Ba 17 goals for Newcastle United already this season has shown just what good value for money Demba Ba was. Relatively unknown when he was signed, he has proved his worth to the Toon. How they missed him when he was at the African Cup of Nations.
Worst Miss: Fernando Torres vs. Man. United: Who else? After rounding David De Gea with a great stepover, Torres managed to somehow put the ball past the left hand upright. To make matters worse, he looked at the ground behind him as the source of the problem. There was no bobble, Fernando.
Worst Signing: Andy Carroll: As Fernando Torres has already won his own award, we’ll give this one to Carroll. 3 goals this season means that he has only scored 2 more than Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard. His lack of activity prompts Liverpool fans to obsess over the simplest of flick ons that anyone his height should latch onto. All this for a meager 35 million pounds.
Game of the Season: Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal: From a neutrals point of view, the football displayed by United that day was simply stunning. A penalty save from De Gea, two world class free kicks from Rooney and an absolute pearler from Ashley Young added to the excitement on a day that really proved United’s title credentials. Granted, United have not reached that form since, but the attacking football on show would have made Barcelona proud.
